Municipalities of Nordland

Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 43. Chapters: Narvik, Bodø, Tysfjord, Fauske, Evenes, Saltdal, Rana, Norway, Grane, Nordland, Værøy, Hamarøy, Alstahaug, Røst, Vega, Norway, Ballangen, Andøy, Vestvågøy, Steigen, Sørfold, Meløy, Hemnes, Brønnøy, Vågan, Sortland, Vefsn, Bø, Nordland, Lødingen, Moskenes, Bindal, Dønna, Beiarn, Hattfjelldal, Nesna, Gildeskål, Rødøy, Hadsel, Træna, Herøy, Nordland, Øksnes, Lurøy, Flakstad, Sømna, Vevelstad, Tjeldsund, Leirfjord, Barkestad. Excerpt: ·) is the third largest city and municipality in Nordland county, Norway by population. Narvik is located on the shores of the Narvik Fjord (Norwegian: ). The municipality is part of the Ofoten traditional region of North Norway, inside the arctic circle. Narvik borders the municipality of Ballangen to the southwest, Evenes to the northwest, Bardu and Gratangen in Troms county to the north, and Norrbotten County (Lapland) in Sweden to the south and east. Narvik was separated from the municipality of Ankenes when it became a city and municipality of its own on 1 January 1902. The municipality of Ankenes was merged into Narvik on 1 January 1974. Central Narvik in summer. The town is named after the old Narvik farm ("Narduigh" - 1567), since the town is built on its ground. The meaning of the first element is unknown, and the last element is vik which means "inlet". Narvik was originally called Victoriahavn after the Queen Victoria of England, however Sweden's Crown Princess Victoria was also honoured. The coat-of-arms is from modern times. They were granted on 1 June 1951. The arms show a gold-colored anchor on a red background. The anchor symbolizes Narvik's status as an important port (the largest harbour in North Norway). Near Narvik city centre; Ankenes is seen across the bayThe history of Narvik as a settlement began in the Stone Age. Not very much is known about these people, but the Vikings lived in this area. The history of modern Narvik begins in the 1870s, when the Swedish government began to understand the potential of the iron ore mines in Kiruna, Sweden. Obtaining iron ore from Kiruna had one significant problem in that there was no suitable Swedish port. The nearest Swedish port, Luleå, has limitations. It is covered with ice all winter, it is far from Kiruna, and it allows only medium-sized bulk freight vessels. Realizing these problems, a Swedish company (Gällivarre Aktiebolag) built a railway to Narvik, as the port there is ice-free thanks to the warm